Living through uncertainty
Greetings,
We never escape the uncertainty that comes with living.
The unrelenting uncertainty of 2020 may have left you feeling hopeless or undone in worry. The past week in the United States has left many exhausted as we waited for the results of this presidential election. The turmoil can send you into a worried mess and tangle of emotions.
I know. Every day since March, I have taken a deep breath and trusted that we will come through the pandemic and the rabid rhetoric that strives to divide and dehumanize us. Fear and worry sought me out, or more likely, I allowed it to consume my thoughts and attitude.
Fear can protect us, but letting ourselves get mired in it only leaves us empty and blinded to hope. Barbara Jordan offers wisdom worth remembering, "For all of its uncertainty, we cannot flee the future."
I found myself in the mire this week, but an email newsletter from Ozan Varol (Think Like a Rocket Scientist) pulled me up and set me back on firm ground.
"In moments of uncertainty, we act like we don’t have a choice. But we do...For me, it all boils down to one question: Will this help?
If the answer is no, let it go.
Worrying gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Instead, focus on what’s yours to shape—the actions you can take to address prevailing problems—and ignore the rest."
Amazing how the universe comes to save you in spite of yourself. I took a deep breath—and several more.
I have a choice. I can sit ensconced in fear and worry, or focus on what I can control. While I will probably need to re-read Ozan's words more than once, I have a roadway to facing life's uncertainties with hope and resilience.
Inspiration worth sharing . . .
This week I thought about my mother and all the uncertainty she/we faced when Alzheimer's created a most uncertain future for her. For the first time, I put some of those memories into words in my post, "How Living in the Moment Softens the Pain of Lost Memories."
I found seven strategies to help you live with uncertainty. Christine Carter ends with this advice, "How can you make a real life during this time? Live that life."
Pablo Casal said, "Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart." Enjoy a little music today, like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole or "Imagine" by John Lennon.
Inspiring words . . .
“I spent a lot of years trying to outrun or outsmart vulnerability by making things certain and definite, black and white, good and bad. My inability to lean into the discomfort of vulnerability limited the fullness of those important experiences that are wrought with uncertainty: Love, belonging, trust, joy, and creativity to name a few.”
—Brené Brown
Be and become #yourbest today and every day.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this newsletter to someone who would enjoy a bit of inspiration.
If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can subscribe here.